
The CSS Profile is an online financial aid application used by over 400 US colleges and universities to assess a student's financial situation and award non-federal institutional aid. It is designed for both domestic and international students and costs between $16 and $25 USD per school. The application is tailored to each student's family and their financial needs and will only ask the questions that the school needs answers to in order to determine aid eligibility.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Application type | Online application |
| Purpose | Used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid |
| Applicant type | Domestic and international graduate and undergraduate students |
| Application fee | $25 for the first school, $16 for any additional schools |
| Application sections | College and programs, financial information from parents and the student, tax returns, etc. |
| Application availability | Over 400 colleges and universities in the US |
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What You'll Learn

The CSS Profile is an online financial aid application
The CSS Profile helps colleges and universities understand a student's financial need, taking their international status into account. It is a tool that can help paint a student's financial picture and open the door to potential financial assistance. The application is tailored to each student's family and their financial needs. It will only ask the questions that the school needs to determine aid eligibility. It also takes into consideration economic principles such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances.
The CSS Profile costs $25 for the first school and $16 for any additional schools. There are no fee waivers available for international students. To apply, students must make an account on the College Board website and start an application for the correct academic year. They will also need to gather their documents, including their and their parents' most recently completed tax returns.
The CSS Profile is distinct from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is catered to US citizens and residents, and the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application), which is for international students. While not all schools in the US accept the CSS Profile, it is a good option for Early Action and Early Decision applicants, as it gives schools a better idea of their financial aid needs early on.
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It is used by US colleges and universities to evaluate financial need
The CSS Profile is a tool used by US colleges and universities to assess an undergraduate or graduate student's financial need and award institutional financial aid. It is an online application created by the College Board, the organisation that also produces the PSAT and SAT. The CSS Profile is designed for both domestic and international students and is used to determine a student's eligibility for non-federal financial aid.
Colleges and universities use the CSS Profile to gather information about a student's family financial situation, including their income, expenses, and savings. This information is used to calculate the student's financial requirement and award aid accordingly. The application takes into account various economic principles, such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances. It is more detailed than the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and is available earlier, making it a good option for early action and early decision applicants.
The CSS Profile costs $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school. Students are required to create an account on the College Board website and provide financial information from their parents and themselves, including their most recently completed tax returns. The application can be completed in the student's home currency, making the process more accessible for international students.
By submitting the CSS Profile, students can apply for need-based aid from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs. The information provided in the application gives colleges and universities a clear picture of the student's financial situation and helps them understand the amount of financial assistance required. This information may also be considered during the admissions process for schools that are not need-blind.
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$13.72 $18.99

It is designed for both domestic and international students
The CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs in the US to award non-federal institutional aid. It is a tool that helps paint a student's financial picture and opens the door for potential financial assistance from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs. The CSS Profile is designed for both domestic and international students.
Domestic students in the US typically apply for financial aid using the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). However, the CSS Profile caters to both domestic and international students. While the FAFSA is tailored specifically for US citizens and residents, the CSS Profile is a more inclusive option. It allows international students to apply for financial aid in US colleges and universities.
For international students, the CSS Profile simplifies the process of applying for financial aid. It is a single application that can be used to apply for aid at multiple institutions. International students can indicate their preferred schools and programs within the CSS Profile platform. This centralized application process makes it more accessible and convenient for international students to seek financial assistance.
The CSS Profile takes into account the unique circumstances of international students. It allows applicants to complete sections of the application in their home currency, making it easier to provide accurate financial information. Additionally, the CSS Profile considers economic principles such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances in its calculations. This comprehensive approach ensures that the financial need of each student, regardless of their nationality, is accurately assessed.
It is important to note that not all schools in the US accept the CSS Profile. However, for those that do, it serves as a valuable tool to understand the financial need of both domestic and international students and award aid accordingly. The CSS Profile is a helpful resource for students seeking non-federal institutional aid, providing a platform to showcase their financial situation and access potential financial support from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs.
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It costs $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. It is administered by the College Board and collects information used by colleges to determine financial aid for students. There are around 130 US universities and colleges that require international students to submit their CSS Profiles. The CSS Profile is a one-time financial submission for students and parents, and no individual university or college can request more details.
The CSS Profile costs $25 for the initial application. This fee is applicable to both domestic and international students. The profile helps families give a holistic picture of their income background, which assists universities in understanding how much funding the applicant requires. This information is kept confidential and is only shared with the institutions that the applicant has applied to.
For students applying to multiple institutions, the CSS Profile offers additional reports at a cost of $16 each. This allows students to provide their financial information to more than one school without having to submit a completely new application. The additional $16 fee is a cost-effective way for students to apply to multiple schools without incurring the full application fee for each additional school.
It is important to note that while the CSS Profile has a fee, there are fee waiver options available for certain students. For example, undergraduate students living in the US may submit the CSS Profile for free under certain income-based conditions. Additionally, around 40% of students qualify for a fee waiver, which helps make the application more accessible to those with financial needs.
The CSS Profile is a valuable tool for international students seeking financial aid for their studies in the US. The $25 initial application fee and $16 additional report fee allow students to apply to multiple institutions without incurring excessive costs. These fees should be considered in the context of the potential financial aid that may be awarded through the CSS Profile, which provides access to over $10 billion in non-federal aid each year.
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It is used to award non-federal institutional aid
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges, universities, and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. It is specifically designed for both domestic and international students, allowing them to apply for financial aid. The application fee is reasonably set at $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school.
Colleges and universities use the CSS Profile to gain insights into a student's family financial situation and calculate the financial requirement of the student's family. This information helps them award aid to students in a fair and equitable manner. While not all schools in the US accept the CSS Profile, it is currently utilized by over 400 colleges and universities to distribute over $9 billion in institutional aid.
The CSS Profile, created by the College Board, is a comprehensive tool that considers various economic principles. It takes into account factors such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances. The application is tailored to each student's family and their unique financial circumstances. For instance, it allows applicants to complete sections in their home currency, making the process more accessible.
International students applying for financial aid in the US are often required to complete the CSS Profile. It serves as a financial aid calculator form, where applicants provide information from federal and bank documents to demonstrate their financial position accurately. This honest account of finances helps colleges and universities understand the student's financial need, taking their international status into consideration.
The CSS Profile is a valuable resource for institutions to provide institutional financial aid to international students. It simplifies the process of applying for financial aid, making it more accessible and straightforward for students seeking educational opportunities in the US.
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Frequently asked questions
The CSS Profile is an online financial aid application used by US colleges and universities to evaluate an international student’s need for institutional financial assistance. It is designed for both domestic and international students.
The cost to complete the CSS Profile is $25 for the first school and $16 for any additional schools. There are no fee waivers available for international students.
To complete the CSS Profile, you will need financial information from your parents, and if applicable, yourself. This includes your most recently completed tax returns, i.e. how much you and/or your parents earned in your home country the previous year.










































